A/N : Wow, seems this is just as popular as it's prequel...so far anyway. 40 reviews on Chapter 1? I'm stunned, but very happy :-) Thanx for the reviews; Shania Maxwell, zanthinegirl, kargrif, Spuffyfan4eva, Celestria-17, Arisluv, Screeching Dragon, Kari Mouke, jazzman31, Brittany, rubi-elektra, wicked-angel3, burningfairy07, pyrobabe7713, Sunglasses-At-Night, velja, wigi, Mr Lennox I pressume, Slayergirl1212, Chris, spikespet2002, Freezyboncoolipants, Onion Petal, spikeswife1, Katie, Amandamanda3, Zanet, bl00dy mAn1Ac, samica, Lucky-112, MikiBaby, Lindsay, Bridge, theoneandonlygurl, spuffyfan-1, pixiecorn, Katie, Devin, MaidenRo, iluvglorfindel - good lord that's a lot of names! Some of you made interesting comments and asked questions which should get answered throughout the course of the story. Now, without further ado, here's chapter two!
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 2
At last it seemed Spike was going to get his own way as he and Buffy lay on the bed together kissing, sleeping being the last thing on their minds as he reached for the zipper on the back of her skirt.
"Oh damn" she complained when the phone started to ring downstairs, easily audible in the empty house.
"Ignore it" came Spike's muffled opinion, as he kissed her neck.
"Can't" Buffy told him, "Could be something apocalypsey"
"Oh soddin' hell!" he complained as it was clear she wasn't going to let him get anywhere tonight until the phone had been answered. The Slayer rolled out from under him, zipping her skirt as she did so, before realising her bra was also too loose.
"When did you unhook this?" she frowned, reaching to refasten that too.
"S'your underwear" he shrugged, smiling devilishly from his position on the bed, "Can't expect me to keep account of what's happening to it" he told her as she rolled her eyes and headed for the door.
"Uh-uh" he shook his head in the negative as he leapt off the bed, landing between her and the exit, "You get back there and wait for me, like a good little Slayer" he told her.
She opened her mouth to argue but he didn't let her get a word in.
"If I let you answer that phone, and it's Willow or someone, I won't see you for the rest of the night" he told her, "So, I'll answer it, you can just...keep it warm for me" he smiled suggestively, kissing her on the end of the nose before closing the door on her.
With a sigh Buffy headed back to the bed and sat down before changing her mind and getting up again. She went over to the closet and dug out the shoebox at the back of it. She took it back over to the bed, opening it up and pulling out some of the items it held. Important papers, old jewellery, all kinds of bits and pieces that would mean very little to most people but mattered a whole lot to Buffy.
Right there in the bottom, she found what she was looking for, the old silver skull ring that she'd originally worn as a symbol of the love she and Spike shared. Since then he'd insisted on buying her what he called a 'real' ring, meaning something gold and pricey. She loved it and she wore it happily, but sometimes Buffy missed the sight and the feel of the old ring he'd given her originally, first under that spell and then later when they loved each other for real and had a child to bring up together. For old times sake, she slid the older ring onto the the third finger of her right hand instead, breathing on it and polishing it up on the material of her skirt.
With a happy sigh she reached for the items that belonged in the box and started to put them back until she noticed one particlar piece of paper. Unfolding it she smiled as she read the certificate that bore her daughters name - Rebecca Joyce Summers-Blackwell, born on 15th May 2000, to Buffy Summers and William Blackwell. Her fingers ran over the words and the smile would not shift from her face. She didn't even notice when Spike came back into the room and sat down beside her. He rested his chin on her shoulder and peered down at the paper she held.
"Who was on the phone?" she asked when she realised he was there.
"Just your Mum" Spike told her, "checking a couple of things for the party"
Saturday was to be a big day for the family, as Rebecca turned sixteen. They were having a celebration at the Bronze, and everyone was so excited about it.
"She loves Becky so much" Buffy smiled, "I was so afraid of even telling her I was pregnant"
"I remember" Spike nodded, running his fingers through her hair, "but I did tell you she'd understand. The day Rebecca was born, I don't think there was a prouder grandparent at the hospital than dear Joyce"
- - - - - - - -
As Joyce came into the hospital room she smiled. It seemed both Spike and Buffy had fallen asleep, him still perched on the edge of her bed and the two of them wrapped in each others arms. Next to them, in a little cot, was Joyce Summers first grandchild. Careful not to wake her daughter or Spike, she crept over and peered in at the baby.
"Oh, sweetheart" she breathed, tears coming to her eyes as the little girl wriggled in her sleep, "You're the most precious thing"
"Can't argue with that" Spike agreed as his eyes opened and he stretched his body out a little, trying not to wake Buffy, "You like the look of your grand daughter then, eh Joyce?"
"Spike, she's gorgeous" the woman enthused, "but then I guess she gets that from her fine genetics" she grinned, and if Spike were able he was sure he'd blush at the implication.
"Whats going on?" Buffy stirred beside him and he smiled down at her.
"Morning, pet. Look who's come to visit"
Joyce moved around the bed to greet her daughter and give her a hug. She told her how proud she was and how beautiful Rebecca was, as said little girl, desperate not to be left out of anything, woke up and screamed.
Spike had her out of the cot immediately, gently rocking her in his arms and soothing her til she was calm again. Buffy and Joyce looked on, the latter with a certain amount of astonishment. Where the Slayer had experience of Spike's kindness and love over the past weeks, her mother did not have that advantage. Though she thought he had the capacity for good, and she enjoyed his company, she knew that Rupert was right when he said that underneath it all Spike was a viscous demon. Indeed, the very first time she'd met him he'd been attacking her little girl, but looking at him now, watching him hold his own baby with such care and love, it was impossible to believe he'd ever been evil in the slightest measure.
"Here now, Rebecca" he said when she was finally quiet, "Come and meet Grandma Joyce" he grinned as he handed the child to her and earned himself a stern look.
"I am not old enough to be a grandma yet" she complained half-heartedly as she looked down at the tiny child in her arms.
"We thought Joyce would make a good middle name" Buffy told her, "and she'll have Spike's last name as well as ours" she explained.
"Oh, sweetheart" the older woman smiled at her daughter, tears of happiness threatening to spill from her eyes, "I am so proud of you"
- - - - - - - -
"I think your Mum was more moved by the occasion that even us two" Spike smiled at the memory, "Though I do believe you made me the happiest man on Earth that day" he told Buffy who placed the birth certificate back in the box and turned to look at him.
"I was the happiest woman too" she assured him, her hand on his cheek a she smiled, "I still am" she added right before they kissed.
"I believe you" he assured her, forehead still resting on hers, "but I knew back there at that hospital you weren't going to be one hundred percent content until you got the support of your Scooby Club" he told her with a grin, "Couldn't do anything without their approval back then y'know"
"That is not true" she protested, though she knew he was right. She really had been thrilled when the gang had come around and accepted the baby and her relationship with Spike much more easily than she ever would have hoped. Of course, they had one or two surprises for her too...
- - - - - - - -
"When are they coming?" Spike asked Buffy as she hung up the phone from calling Giles. They hadn't told anyone but Joyce about the baby at first, giving them a chance to get back to Sunnydale and spend a day getting used to their surroundings again before the onslaught of dealing with Buffy's friends. It had been agreed that until further notice, the Slayer would move back into her old room at home with Spike, whilst the spare room would become Rebecca's own.
"Giles said he'd call Will and Xand, arrange to bring them over in an hour or so" she said a little nervously, and Spike walked over to hug her.
"It'll be okay, luv" he promised, kissing the top of her head, "It might take time, but they will understand, and hey" he pulled away ad made her look at him, "if all else fails you'll always have me and Rebecca, right?"
"I know" Buffy nodded, tears threatening to spill from her eyes "Do you have any idea how much I love you?" she asked bringing her hand to his face. He leant his cheek into her palm, adoring the feel of her touch.
"If you love me half as much as I love you, Buffy" he said softly, "then I'm content"
"More than half" she promised, "More than anything" she said as she reached up to bring her lips to his. They held each other tight as the kiss went on until a cry from upstairs claimed their attention.
"Someone's not happy" Buffy sighed, pulling away from Spike and pushing her hair off her face.
"You get yourself ready for when your mates arrive" he told her, "I'll see to the Little Bit"
That agreed they both climbed the stairs, she going to their room and he to the baby.
"Hey now" said Spike as he went over to the crib Joyce had bought just yesterday, "What's all this noise about?" he asked the child who seemed to become calmer just from his presence in the room. He picked her up out of the cot and rocked her in his arms.
"You just wanted some company, didn't you Sweet Bit" he smiled, "and you're not alone in that. Gotta tell you, alone time is nice on occasion but I'm so much better off here with you and your Mum" he sighed, sitting down in the chair in the corner of the room, "Seems weird calling her 'your Mum' when I've barely got used to her being my Slayer. You look like her already, so beautiful. She says you've got my eyes but everyone knows that most kids are born with blue ones anyway...still, it'd be nice to think you got something good out of me being your Dad. That sounds weird too, me being a Dad, but I'm proud if it, more proud than anyone will ever know..."
The child yawned in her father's arms and he himself was having trouble staying awake now. He'd barely slept the past two days together, what with the birth and then looking after Buffy and the baby. Apart from a couple of hours at the hospital he'd barely closed his eyes and right now it was so appealing.
Before he knew it he'd drifted of and it was an hour later before he woke again, hearing voices downstairs...
"Buffy!" Willow shrieked as soon as her friend opened the door, flinging herself at the blonde and hugging her fiercely.
"Hey Will" Buffy hugged her friend back equally as tight. She'd missed the red-headed witch so much these past few weeks. They talked about almost everything usually and to have lost that lately had been a wrench for them both.
"Hey, how about a little huggage for the Xand-man?" a male voice complained and Buffy moved from hugging one best friend to the other, before finally embracing Giles. It was only then that someone coughed behind the gang and they parted to reveal Faith. Buffy looked at her warily.
"Hey B" she half smiled, "Look, I know I did wrong before and if you want me out of town now you're back and all I'll just clear out...trouble ain't my middle name any more y'know?"
"I saw what you did" Buffy said solemnly, "I got a vision when you fought Adam, defended my town and my friends in my place. Giles filled in the gaps when I called him and...I think it was incredible"
She shocked everyone, including herself when she stepped forward and hugged the brunette briefly. Faith looked astonished but grateful when Buffy pulled away again.
"Thankyou" she said simply, "I can't forget the bad things you did, and neither should you, but I'm willing to believe you're a better person now, that you want to be good"
"I do" Faith assured her with a nod.
"Then come inside" Buffy smiled, gesturing for her friends to all accept the invitation, which they did.
As Giles took one armchair and Buffy took the other, her friends and Faith sat along the couch.
"So, how've you guys been?" she asked them all, "I mean, apart from the whole major demon fightage thing"
"I rather think we're all much more interested in you, Buffy" Giles told her, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay" she smiled at the man she saw as very much her father figure, "I'm ridiculously happy, I just really hope you guys can be happy for me too" she said cautiously, looking around the room, "Spike has changed so much, even since we left Sunnydale. He loves me so much, and I feel the same, and then there's Rebecca..."
"Buffy, if you're happy, we are too" Willow assured her, "I mean, it's gonna take some getting used to, you and Spike being all big with the love and you two being Mommy and Daddy to a little girl" she admitted, "but we'll deal, it's okay"
"I love you guys" Buffy's eyes started to water as Xander nodded his agreement with what Willow was saying. Faith looked a little awkward, but was glad just to have been accepted so far.
"Looks like the party started without us" said a voice as Spike made his way down the stairs and appeared in the doorway with a baby in his arms.
"Oh Goddess" Willow gasped when she saw the tiny child.
"Afternoon all" Spike nodded, giving Buffy a look as he stood on the edge of the sunlit area of the room with nowhere to go.
"Oh" she made a sound of realisation as she scrambled for the drapes and Faith helped her pull them across the window.
"Well then" he smiled gratefully as Buffy sat down again and he came further into the room, "S'pose you all ought to meet our daughter"
"Guys" Buffy grinned as she took the child from Spike and he perched on the arm of the chair beside her, "This is Rebecca Joyce Summers-Blackwell"
"She's beautiful, Buff" Xander told her, as he gazed at the child "Looks just like her Mom"
"The kids a peach, B" Faith agreed, "and the boyfriend ain't bad either" she dared to add, earning her a smile from Spike, one that meant despite all that had happened he was willing to let bygones be bygones too.
"Rebecca" Buffy said to her daughter, "This is Grandpa Giles" he frowned at that but let her continue, "Aunt Willow, Uncle Xander...and Aunt Faith" she added to the others surprise. Still, the dark Slayer had earned a little respect and friendship after all she'd done for them, she wanted to be a better person and that would only happen if she was treated better, just the same as Spike, they realised.
- - - - - - - -
"It's amazing what love can do" Buffy smiled to herself as she put the shoebox of memories back into the closet, "I was so happy when I had you and Becky, but it was extra good to know the gang accepted us all"
"Gotta tell ya" Spike sighed "I didn't think I cared what that lot thought but, when they accepted me into the little gang of theirs, it means something to belong like that...I never had before"
Buffy sat down next to him on the bed once again and began to kiss him. In moments he had her pinned to the bed once again, making her feel all kinds of wonderful things as he started to undress her.
"Didn't think I'd forgotten the original plan, did you?" he grinned as sat up for a second to remove his T-shirt.
"I hoped you hadn't" Buffy told him with her own smile as he leant over her once again.
'This time, interruptions be damned' she thought as he reminded her in the most beautiful way, just how much he loved her.
To Be Continued...
A/N2 : All reviews gratefully received and loved :-)